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Australia's only female cabinet minister Julie Bishop does not describe herself as a feminist and says she does not find the term useful today.
In an address to the National Press Club on Wednesday to launch a "Women in Media" group in Canberra, Ms Bishop said she was "first and foremost" a parliamentarian and minister.
"I don't find the need to self-describe in that way [as a feminist]," she said.
Ms Bishop stressed that while she recognised the women's movement and the barriers that it had faced, "feminist" is "not a term that I find particularly useful these days".
Australia's first female foreign minister later told the lunchtime audience of female politicians, political advisers and journalists that they should not over-analyse her stance.
"It's not because I have some sort of pathological dislike of the term. I just don't use it ... It's not part of my lexicon."
Ms Bishop said people should not be offended by this stance.
"I'm a female politician, I'm a female foreign minister ... get over it."
She also said, in response to another question, that she refused to acknowledge the glass ceiling.
Ms Bishop noted that she was not arguing it did not exist for others, but that she would never "blame the fact that I'm a woman" if something did not work out in her career.
During her prepared comments, Ms Bishop acknowledged that she was currently the only woman in the Abbott cabinet.
"The challenge I have set for myself is to do the very best I can to make it easier for those who will follow me," she said.
"I feel that responsibility every day."
Ms Bishop's comments received were quickly criticised by feminist and commentator Jane Caro, who posted on Twitter: "women who benefit from feminism and then refuse to embrace the term ... not a position I have much respect for".
Greens spokeswoman for women Larissa Waters described Ms Bishop's stance as "disappointing".
"Feminism is about equality. Why is it so hard for the Abbott government's most senior female members to be a part of that?"
Labor's spokeswoman for Women Claire Moore said that how Ms Bishop "likes to define herself is a matter for her". But she added that the May budget disproportionately hurt women, "and that speaks volumes".
Feminism's PR problem
But Liberals MPs strongly backed the Foreign Minister. One of the Coalition's six female frontbenchers, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said Ms Bishop made a "good point" about feminism.
"It's about equality of opportunity, not equality of outcomes."
Senator Fierravanti-Wells said she had won her preselection for Parliament "fair and square after five attempts".
"Furthermore, no feminist ever helped me."
West Australian senator Linda Reynolds said that "some of the emotionally charged language of the past had had its day", while one of the youngest Liberal MPs, Fiona Scott, said did believed in equality but did not identify as a feminist.
"Feminism is about equality, but it also has a PR problem," Ms Scott told Fairfax Media.
"I believe all individuals should be judged on merit and ability to do the job.
"At no point in my career have I felt either falsely advantaged or disadvantaged by my gender.
"I come from a generation that for every job I have held there has always been a senior woman at the executive level. Each I have respected for their ability and would hope I would be given the same courtesy."
Earlier this year, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women Michaelia Cash said she did not associate with the feminist movement.
"I believe in gender equality and if you want to label me as a feminist go ahead and do it. But certainly, labelling myself as a feminist, if that is a prerequisite now for being a Minister for Women, that's ridiculous," Senator Cash said in March.
During her appearance at the Press Club on Wednesday, the Foreign Minister also denied there was an element of gender in how former prime minister Julia Gillard was received by the public and the media.
Ms Bishop said the former Labor prime minister was judged by her competence. "She turned herself into a victim," she said.
with Latika Bourke
